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Contact photographer Dinosat
What: Tentara Nasional Indonesia-AU (Air Force) Lockheed C-130H Hercules
Where: near Madiun-Iswahyudi Airport, Indonesia
When: 20 MAY 2009
Who: 14 crew, 98 passengers
Why: On approach to Madiun-Iswahyudi Airport, the plane hit four houses, skidded into a field and burst into flames. The number of injured and dead is unclear.
What: Carrier Air Wing 11 HH60 Navy Seahawk helicopter en route from the USS Nimitz
Where 13 miles south of San Diego near the Coronado Islands
When: 11:36 p.m. Tuesday
Who: The bodies of three of the five people aboard have been recovered
Why: The helicopter had been on a training exercise.
What: Aero Aviation Cessna single-engine 172 en route from Longbeach Airport
What: Cessna 310 en route from Longbeach Airport
Where: TORRANCE, CA
When: 05/19/2009 5:45 PM
Who: The Aero Aviation Cessna had a pilot and student pilot.
Why: N738NN, A CESSNA 172N AIRCRAFT, AND N777AL, A CESSNA 310P AIRCRAFT, COLLIDED OVER THE OCEAN.
The planes collided in flight off the Southern California Coast. THE COAST GUARD LOCATED two debris fields five miles apart. On monday a seat cushion, nosewheel and several pieces of fuselage were recovered. THE SEARCH was suspended Tuesday.
Pictured: Indonesian C-130 Hercules. On the video, it appears that the C-130 involved in the crash was painted in the military’s standard camo pattern.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Richard Vandervord
What: C-130 Hercules Indonesian military transport en route from Jakarta to East Java
Where: Magetan, East Java. Geplak 325 miles east of Jakarta.
When: Wednesday May 20
Who: 112 passengers and 13 crew. 57 were killed, 5 on the ground. 70 were hospitalized. The exact number of those aboard is unclear. (Some overlap with passengers and crew numbers. The reports range from 99 to 113 passengers and 13 or 14 crew members.)Update:The number of dead has risen to 98. Ten children were on the flight. Two were killed on the ground. 15 are injured.
Why: The plane was about to land at Iswahyudi military airbase. Witnesses claim the plane split apart in the air, (one of the wings fell off when the plane was still in the air) and exploded.
The plane destroyed four houses in Geplak and skidded into the rice paddy.
George’s Point of View
A colleague said that the fact that this is a 30 year old plane loaded with soldiers speaks for itself.
I think it’s terrible that old planes are allowed up in the air, taking lives.
The manufacturers build a deadly weapon like a plane and the craft is sold and resold. It seems to me that the manufacturer should maintain control of deciding the airworthiness of their planes from birth to retirement, no matter who owns the plane.
Maybe one day manufacturer’s sale agreements will be written including a clause that the decision of a plane’s airworthiness is part of the ownership certificate for the life of the plane. Then Lockheed would be diligent about keeping maintenance crews diligent.
Am I dreaming?
I anxiously await the preliminary report from the NTSB, and to hear what happened from Lockheed what caused the explosion.
What: Northern Colorado Med-Evac Bell 407 Helicopter en route from Greeley to a hospital south of Denver
Where: two miles from Swedish Medical Center (landed at Centennial Airport)
When: 1:10 a.m. Sunday May 17
Who: The 4 people aboard were uninjured.
Why: The helicopter made an emergency landing after a bird strike left a small hole in the front windshield. The bird actually struck the pilot in the face and ended up on the floor of the helicopter.
The pilot and passengers were not injured. No word on the bird’s condition.
The helicopter was repaired and is back in service. The neurology patient was driven the rest of the way to the hospital.
George’s Point of View
I love birds, but I wish they would stay away from our aircraft.
What: Allegiant Air MD-83 en route from Los Angeles to Grand Junction
Where: McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas
When: 2:22 p.m May 18, 2009
Who: 130 passengers and 5 crew members
Why: After reporting smoke in the cockpit, the crew diverted to the Las Vegas airport. There were no injuries. The replacement flight is not expected to arrive in Grand Junction until after 6 pm.
What: Air Canada Embraer ERJ-190 en route from Calgary to Los Angeles,CA
Where: Los Angeles
When: May 18th 2009
Who: 58 passengers and 5 crew, 4 minor injuries
Why: The flight experienced a few minutes of moderate in-flight turbulence but landed as scheduled. Several passengers were treated at the airport.
What: Turkish Airlines Airbus A320-200 en route from Konya to Istanbul
Where: Konya
When: May 16th 2009
Who: 140 passengers
Why: After a bird strike, the flight returned to Konya. Two passengers were taken to the hospital.
What: Airbus 320 en route from LAX to Dulles
Where: LAX
When: Friday, May 15, 2009 2:42 p.m.
Why: The plane developed a hydraulic leak and returned to LAX for an emergency landing. No Injuries were reported.
What: crop dusting helicopter
Where: 1778 Richvale Highway, Richvale, Butte County California
When: Wednesday May 13
Who: pilot Craig Compton
Why: The pilot (and business owner of Avag ) was moving the plane when it crashed into a building. Compton was flown to Enloe Medical Center in Chico.
AVAG’s business is aerial seeding.
What: Colgan Airlines/ Continental Q400 Bombardier turbo-prop en route from Newark to Buffalo
Where: Buffalo International Airport
When: May 12 6 pm
Who: 73 on board
Why: On landing, part of the wheel assembly disengaged. A passenger video shows the tire assembly coming to pieces on landing. One tire of the two-tire assembly comes off; the remaining tire sustains the landing.
George’s Point of View
Notably, the wheel assembly had been recently serviced, but whether or not the problem lies with Colgan maintenance or the established fact that the tire assembly on the Q400 Bombardier is well renowned for problems is as yet undetermined. At the end of the tape above, take a look at the shot of the 2007 Denmark incident where the Q400 Bombardier’s right landing gear collapsed. There were 8 such landing gear failures in the Q400 Bombardier in 2007 alone.
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Contact photographer Art Brett
What: United Airlines Boeing 757-200 en route from Baltimore MD to Chicago O’Hare,IL
Where: Runway 23 Right at Indianapolis International Airport
When: May 15, 7:15 am
Who: 140 people aboard.
Why: While en route to Chicago, the 757 cockpit filled with smoke and requested an emergency landing at Indianapolis.
As you can see in the silent digital recording above, the plane lands safely, although we do not see the passengers debarking.
What: Bulgaria Air Boeing 737-300 en route from Tel Aviv to the Bulgarian city of Burgas on the Black Sea.
Where: Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv
When: May 14
Who: 146 passengers
Why: When a crack was discovered in a window, the plane returned to Tel Aviv. There were no injuries. Passengers were provided replacement transportation.
Pictured: Kenyan Mi-17
Contact photographer Guido Potters
What: Russian-made Mi-17 helicopter
Where: Rift Valley province, Kenya
When: Monday May 11
Who: 28 on board, including Kenyan Internal Security Assistant Minister Orwa Ojode, Police Commissioner Maj. Gen. Mohammed Ali, Rift Valley Provincial Commissioner Hassan Noor Hassan and journalists suffered injuries. Fifteen injured were taken to Nairobi Hospital.
Why: When the helicopter developed mechanical problems and lost power, it crash landed in the Rift Valley. Fuel, flight voice and data recorders have been collected, and the Russian plane builders have been invited to join the investigation.
(unverified) Popular opinion is that the helicopter was too old to still be in service.
George’s Point of View
Air safety in Kenya, especially for government officials, seems to be an oxymoron.
Hungarian Malev Airlines Q400 Bombardier
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Contact photographer Adam Samu
What: Hungarian Malev Airlines Q400 Bombardier en route from Varna to Budapest
Where: Bulgarian coastal town of Varna
When: 5:25 am on May 12
Who: 30 passengers
Why: The plane experienced an undisclosed technical problem and turned back almost as soon as it was in the air. The plane that turned back is the same as the Colgan Air plane that crashed in Buffalo NY. This plane, however, was not flying with ice on its wings.
Contact photographer Galen Burrows
What: Air Canada Jazz de Havilland Dash 8-100, en route from Sudbury to Pearson,ON
Where: Sudbury
When: May 12th 2009 21:07 (eighteen minutes)
Who: 21 on board
Why: While en route, the oil pressure and ITT indicators came on for engine number two just before it made a big “bang.” The pilot shut down engine two and returned to Sudbury for a safe landing
George’s Point of View
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Michael Carter
What: Air Canada Airbus A320-200 en route from Toronto,ON to Winnipeg,MB
Where: Winnipeg
When: May 3rd 2009
Who: 148 people on board
Why: When the flight crew discovered low hydraulics fluid, they turned off the system, declared an emergency and flew on to Winnipeg without hydraulics. Just prior to landing, the hydraulics were re-initiated and the plane landed safely. According to the the Aviation Herald’s May 04 report, the “O-ring on the brakes servo valve needed to be replaced. ”
George’s Point of View
It’s difficult to argue with a safe landing.
Though it is impossible from our perspective to say whether this dangerous situation occurred due to maintenance failure or regular wear and tear, the Air Canada flight crew is to be commended for successfully landing without any injuries, and handling the situation in such a practical manner.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Giovanni Francisco Rodriguez Bravo
What: Single Engine Cessna 172 en route from Santa Cruz
When: May 11
Who: four people were killed: pilot Martyshev Basil, his wife and two children
Why: The plane took off from Santa Cruz 20 minutes after the expiry of the permitted duration of flights.
50 minutes after takeoff the plane fell from the sky. No cause is yet noted.
Apparently Martyshev was Russian and had U.S. citizenship, while his wife and children were citizens of Bolivia.
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Carlos De Oliveira
What: Air Austral Boeing 777-200 en route from Saint Denis to Dzaoudzi
Where: Saint Denis (2x)
When: May 8th 2009
Why: When there was a problem with the brakes, the plane returned to Saint Denis twice for repairs, before the flight was ultimately cancelled
George’s Point of View
Maintenance! Maintenance! Maintenance!
What: Jetblue Embraer ERJ-190 en route from Austin,TX to New York JFK,NY
Where: JFK,NY runway 22L diverted to runway 31L
When: May 7th 2009
Who: 80 people on board
Why: After a missed approach, the Jet Blue crew announced a “little issue.” THe little issue turned out to be a nose gear steering fault. The plane landed safely under emergency status; no one was injured. And the plane did require a tow after landing.
This plane–unlike several others at the same time frame at JFK–did NOT incur a bird strike.
George’s Point of View
JetBlue goes back and forth across the country.
Maintenance! Maintenance! Maintenance!
© Michael Carter Airliners.net
Contact photographer Michael Carter
What: Saudi Arabian Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-90 en route from Jeddah to Yanbu
Where: Yanbu
When: May 8th 2009
Why: On landing, the plane struck one wing onto the runway. The logo light in the wing tip sustained damage. THe pilot was suspended.
© Markus Buttinger Airliners.net
View large photo on Airliners.net
Contact photographer Markus Buttinger
What: Saudi Arabian Airlines McDonnell Douglas MD-90 en route from from Jeddah to Riyadh Saudi Arabia
Where: Riyadh
When: May 8th 2009
Who: 8 crew on board
Why: On a ferry flight, after landing at Riyadh the plane skidded on a high speed turnoff, slid, turned, veered off the runway. The main gear collapsed and the left wing damaged made it a write-off.
George’s Point of View
Coincidence? 2 MD-90s? Both Saudi Arabian Airlines? Did they rush their pilot’s training? Or maybe they trained down on the penny arcade 1991 model Sega R360 flight simulator down at the 7/11?
Contact photographer Mark Kwiatkowski
What: Lufthansa A321-100, registration en route from Munich Germany to Lisbon Portugal
Where: Diverted to Geneva Switzerland
When: May 9th 2009
Who: 147 passengers
Why: En route, the airbus was hit by clear air turbulence. Twelve passengers were injured, and 2 crew members. 5 were taken to the hospital.
George’s Point of View
Turbulence does not necessarily result in a plane being taken out of commission. The passengers were delayed for five hours while replacement transportation was procured. There is no indication why.
This makes me question why the passengers had to switch planes.
- Was this just a precaution?
- Was the turbulence so bad that it damaged the plane?
- Did they get jostled around much the galley contents (or during mealtime) that it made a 5+ hour mess?
- Did something on the plane go on the fritz before during or after?
Inquiring minds want to know…
Update: Meal service was in progress at the time of the turbulence.
What: small propeller-driven, six-seater Beechcraft BE95 twin-engine plane en route from the Minden-Tahoe Airport (500 yards south of Mottsville Lane, three miles west of State Route 88)
Where: western Gardnerville Nevada
When: Saturday afternoon about 4:10 p.m.
Who: five people aboard: four men and one woman. All died of blunt force trauma.
Why: Witnesses say the plane nose-dived into an open field. Witnesses said “The right wing of the plane dropped down and it appeared that the pilot had stalled”
The cause is under investigation.
What: ROBINSON R22 ROTORCRAFT
Where: WINTER HAVEN, FL
When: 05/07/2009
Who: pilot
Why: A ROBINSON R22 ROTORCRAFT owned by “NOVEMBER ALPHA LLC” at 5657 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 330, REPORTED AN ENGINE FAILURE AND FORCE LANDED ON A PARKING LOT.
What: Beechcraft 35 Bonanza owned by James BREAZEAL of Florida
Where: LANTANA, FL
When: 05/06/2009
Who: Two fatalities, pilot and passenger: Jack Henderson of Lake Worth and James Breazeal of Windermere were killed in the crash.
Why: AIRCRAFT, ON LANDING MISSED THE RUNWAY AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED AIRCRAFT, THE TWO PERSONS ON BOARD WERE FATALLY INJURED, LANTANA, FL, Air worthiness Date: 08/18/1959
Although the airport is saying a new engine was recently installed, investigators believe that engine failure caused the plane to crash. The plane clipped parked planes and collided with a trailer, with the engine dislodging on impact. Apparently the rest of the plane “crumbled” on impact with the hanger.
